Electronic pianos and electric pianos are not the same instrument. Electronic pianos work similarly to analog synthesizers whereas electric pianos are mechanical, their sound being electrified by a pickup.

Most electronic pianos date from the 1970s and were made in Italy, although similar models were made concurrently in Japan. An exception is the range of instruments made by RMI in the USA from 1967 to approximately 1980. Most electronic pianos (including the RMI) do not vary their volume based on how hard a user hits one of their keys.